BEAUMONT, Texas — The City of Beaumont water department is combating bad water by testing service lines for lead at homes and businesses. They've already been to more than 700 properties.
This is a part of the federal Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) lead and copper rule revisions.
12News followed the water department as they tested pipes and have detailed the process and how you can benefit.
The Director of Water and Sewer Operations for Beaumont, Mike Harris, says homes built before 1988 have a higher chance of having lead pipes.
"You may see a contractor, or a city crew in your yard digging around the meter box," Harris said.
The water department is testing both your service line and theirs for lead.
"The water service is the small line, that comes from our water main to the water meter. And then from the water meter to the house," said Harris.
This is to keep in compliance with the EPA's lead and copper rule revisions.
"Businesses, homes, schools, daycares, every service line," said Harris.
They're digging a hole to find your pipes and scratching them to see what color they turn.
"Of course this is just one step, that we do to take care of public health and public safety. To make sure that we're not seeing the leeching of lead into our drinking water," Harris told 12News.
If lead gets in the water system it can make you sick.
"It causes adverse health effects, especially in young children and elderly as well," Harris said.
If you don't want city workers outside your home, you can do it yourself.
"So the survey that we have available is on the city's website. And we're asking customers to look at their water service line and to try to identify the material of it," said Makenzie Watts, the water utilities designer of Beaumont.
You can use a penny or key to scratch the surface or see if a magnet sticks.
"If they have any documentation or pictures that, they could attached to the survey that would be really helpful," Watts said.
"(If lead is detected) it will be the responsibility of the homeowner, to replace their line from the meter to the house. Or replace the lines in the house. Currently, we're looking into federal funding to help the homeowner with the cost," said Harris.
The water department has until October 16 to finish collecting the data for the survey and three years to put it all together.